Criteria for Chinese Girls Name - By: Allan Michael Taylor

There was a time when Chinese women were not considered worthy enough to be given names. According to Confucius, the famous philosopher, women were unworthy of being named and were referred to as daughter number 1 or daughter number 2 rather than being given a Chinese girls name.

A female child was not formally educated. She lived the life of a servant in her childhood home. She was then married and became a servant in her husband's home. One female rose above all this. Her father gave her an education. As a young adult she was named a concubine to Emperor Gaozong.

This was not a position of dishonor in those times. Over time and through a series of events, she was married to Emperor Gaozong in 683. After his death, she became the female who ruled China for fifty years.

The Chinese name of Wu was a unisex name in those times. Now it is listed only as a male name. Against all precedents, Empress Wu ruled the country for fifty years. She renamed the dynasty, Zhou dynasty. She renamed herself as well, to Sacred and Divine Empress. Her own women's rights were now firmly in place.

We have a list of female names from China and it's interesting to read their lovely meanings. Jie is defined as good and auspicious. One Olympian named Tian Jie won a bronze medal as a volleyball player. Elegant, graceful and beautiful autumn are the meanings ascribed to the name Liqiu.

Men and women can be named Liu, a name meaning willow. There was an Empress named Liu Jingyan during the Chen dynasty. Li is another unisex name, which means plums. One man with that name, Li Na, was a professional tennis player. The name Lihua means beautiful, elegant, and graceful elegant flowers.

There was an empress named Yin Lihua who ruled in the Han dynasty. She was married to Emperor Guangwu. Wen, a unisex name, carries the meaning warm, genial and mild. Lianxing Wen is a Chinese scientist. He discovered many things about the interior of the planet Earth.

Men as well as women can also be named Xiaoli. Intellectual, light and to understand are the meanings ascribed to Xiaoli. Wan Xiaoli was a well-known Chinese singer. Zhu means vermilion or red and is another name for either gender. Yang Zhu lived and functioned as a philosopher during the warring states period.

China has advanced a great deal since the days when women were not allowed to have an education, or even a name of their own. Women now hold high positions in government, earn doctorate degrees and are generally treated better. However, equality between the sexes is not firmly entrenched. It seems to be a good sign that a Chinese girls name is also used as a name for a boy. This does indicate that some level of equality now exists in the People's Republic of China.

About the Author

James Tien is a Chinese culture writer. He recommends Absolutely Feng Shui for more information on Chinese Astrology Calendar and Chinese Age.

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